US ambassador to France promises not to interfere in its domestic affairs

Donald Trump's envoy to Paris has called France's foreign minister and pledged not to interfere in the country's domestic affairs, a day after he was barred from talking to government officials for failing to attend a formal meeting at the ministry.

- Jon Henley

Charles Kushner was summoned by French officials over US comments about the death of a far-right activist

The foreign ministry said on Monday that Charles Kushner would not be permitted to carry out his diplomatic duties until he had explained his refusal to comply with the summons over US comments about the killing of a far-right activist in France.

A ministry official said yesterday that the ambassador, whose son Jared is married to the US president's daughter Ivanka, had called the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, who had "reiterated the reasons that led to the summons".

France "cannot accept any form of interference or manipulation of its national public debate by authorities of a third country", Barrot reportedly told Kushner, who "took note and expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate".

The official said the two had agreed to meet to "continue working towards a close bilateral relationship, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year". They did not say when Kushner's access would be restored.